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The largest U.S. grain trade group on Thursday said Congress and commodities regulators should adopt its recommendations to protect customer funds and restore market confidence after the collapse of giant broker MF Global.

Global food prices rose in March for a third successive month, driven by gains in grains and vegetable oils, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation said on Thursday, putting food inflation firmly back on the economic agenda.

About 200 U.S. Marines began a six month deployment in Australia on Wednesday, in the first wave of a build up of 2,500 troops due eventually to rotate through a de facto base in Darwin, as the U.S. deepens its military presence in the Asia-Pacific.

Mali's junta leader appealed for outside help to secure the West African country on Friday as separatist Tuareg rebels took the strategic northern town of Kidal and advanced towards new targets further south.

Thousands of demonstrators chanted pro-junta slogans in Mali's capital on Wednesday, protesting against the threats of foreign powers to use sanctions to force the leaders of last week's military coup to step down.

OTTAWA, March 26 - Canada's farm minister highlighted on Monday the global marketing reach of Swiss-based Glencore in the latest sign from Ottawa that it has little appetite for blocking the company's proposed takeover of grain handler Viterra.

A Hong Kong election committee chose Leung Chun-ying, widely seen as Beijing's preferred choice, as its next leader on Sunday following a campaign marred by scandals that created a tide of public discontent and brought street protests.

Asian shares gave back most of their earlier gains on Thursday after data showed China's factory activity shrank for a fifth successive month, renewing concerns about a growth slowdown in the world's second largest economy.

Brazil plans to signal its growing concern about intense foreign competition hurting its industries by suggesting at the World Trade Organization that the ceiling for its import tariffs is too low, government sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

Asian shares eased on Wednesday, as concerns about China's slowing economy dampened the optimism generated by a brightening outlook for the U.S. economy that has been pushing equity markets higher since late last year.

Sterling traded at a 10-week peak against a basket of currencies on Monday, with investors reluctant to take new positions ahead of this week's annual budget, U.K. inflation data and central bank minutes.